Bitter Root

by Laydin Michaels

  “You say I can trust you, but I have to know that I can trust you. Not just today or next week, but trust you forever. This doesn’t have anything to do with the story you’re writing, but everything to do with who I am. Before I would ever tell you, I’d have to be sure you won’t let something slip that ends up hurting the people I love.”

  What in the world could be that terrible? What could cause that level of fear and paranoia? Whatever it is, is big. This is what I was picking up on. Do I really want to know? Is a story worth it?

  “What is it? Why does my knowing about it threaten your loved ones?”

  “It just does, okay? Just trust me on that. You’re a journalist, and you’re here to write a story. When I’m sure about you, when I know you see me as a friend and not just some story you want to write, I’ll tell you everything. Nothing held back.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes, I promise.”

  “In that case, what do you want to listen to? Top forty? Country?”

  “How about oldies?”

  “How old? Your oldies might be my current playlist.”

  “You’re not that much older than me.”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  “I’ll be twenty-three in July. How old are you?”

  “Older than anyone you went to high school with. I’m thirty.”

  “That’s not old. Hey, seven years is nothing around here. My dad was twelve years older than my mom.”

  “Really? How old was she when they first met?”

  “She was twenty-one, he was thirty-three, when they had their first date. But Mamma looked older than she was, and Daddy never grew up.”

  “You mentioned your dad was a shrimper, right?”

  “Yeah. He worked for an old man, running his boat. Dad loved his work. He was so much in his element on the open water. I think he died happy, because he died at sea, you know?”

  “I can understand that. They say the sea is a harsh mistress. How did he die, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “No, I don’t mind talking about him. He was caught in a tropical storm offshore. The boat capsized and all hands were lost. Six men went down that night, my dad among them.”

  “How old were you when that happened?”

  “I was seven. I went out every morning to meet his boat on the dock. That morning, he just didn’t show up. Mamma called the coast guard. We didn’t know about the storm. It went south and we didn’t even get any rain. Mamma tried real hard to act broken up about it, but I knew she was happy to be free of him. She wasn’t a very nice woman.”

  “No?”

  “No.”

  “Is she gone too?”

  “I hope so.”

  Griffith pondered the information, tucking it away to put through a search engine.

  “Did I shock you?” Adi asked.

  “No, not really. So you didn’t get along with your mother?”

  “Uh, that would be an understatement. She’d as soon smack me as look at me. We were like oil and water. I think she resented me. I always thought, if not for me, she would’ve never married my dad. I think she pictured a different life for herself. One without me or my dad. After the accident, it was only me keeping her down. I paid for that crime on a daily basis.”

  “So is that the reason? Why you ran away?”

  “In some ways. Hey, smell that? That’s the Tabasco peppers. We don’t have much farther to go.”

  Griffith caught the scent of the peppers, an almost tickling sensation more than a smell, really. It sat right at the top of her nasal passage and made her want to sneeze. It grew stronger the closer they got. A cute little house appeared on the right side of the road with a barrier arm just in front.

  “What is this? A guard post?”

  “It’s the toll booth.”

  “This is a toll road?”

  “No, but it’s a private road onto the island, so we stop here and pay the toll. This lets the island officials know how many visitors are on the island.”

  “Hmm.”

  They arrived at the visitors center soon after. It was a charming old brick structure, a factory straight out of the 1920s. They went in and were greeted by a local, describing the history of Tabasco. The bottling plant was fun to watch, especially the large wooden mixing barrel. They were given sample bottles of sauce.

  “I never knew there was more than the red sauce,” Griffith said as they exited into the store.

  “Oh yeah, they have seven varieties. Here, this is the tasting bar. We can try all of them.”

  “Wow, they have Tabasco ice cream?”

  “Yep, and Tabasco Coke too. But let’s try the sauces first.”

  They dipped bread and chips into the individual sauce cups they were given to try each variety. Griffith skipped the habanero, but Adi indulged.

  “Man, that’s hot-hot. But good.”

  “You’re sweating and your face is red.”

  “Hey, at least I’m not crying. Pass me some of that bread. A lot of that bread.” Adi wiped sweat from her brow.

  “I have a better idea. Let’s get the ice cream now.”

  “There you go, but bread too, please?”

  Griffith handed her last slice of French bread over to Adi. Their fingers touched during the exchange and Griffith felt a jolt of electricity go through her. Judging by Adi’s reaction, she felt it too. She grinned and led the way to the ice cream bar. She ordered them each a scoop of the Tabasco vanilla. Griffith scooped up a tiny spoonful and held it to Adi’s wide, sensual mouth. She met Adi’s eyes, challenging her to taste.

  “Here, you take the first bite.”

  Adi’s cheeks flushed as she opened her mouth. Griffith slid the spoon inside and held it while Adi sampled. She could feel the movement of Adi’s tongue on the plastic spoon. It was almost erotic, this game of tasting. I wonder if cayenne peppers are an aphrodisiac.

  “Let’s take this out to the patio to eat. There are some tables out there,” Adi said.

  They pushed through the door to the outdoor area. There were tables and vendors selling even more food items with Tabasco as an ingredient. Griffith looked around, surprised by the array.

  “I had no idea pepper sauce could be so versatile. I think it’s pretty amazing what they’ve done here.”

  “I think you’re pretty amazing. Here, your turn for a bite.”

  Griffith turned to the spoon Adi held up. She took it into her mouth, savoring the sweet taste and sharp bite of pepper. She bit down on the spoon, pulling it from Adi’s hand.

  “Hey now, you’ve got your own spoon. Give me mine back.”

  “Make me.”

  “I’ll make you.” Adi pulled Griffith toward her and Griffith prepared to be kissed. She was surprised when Adi’s hand sneaked under her T-shirt and tickled her side. She laughed and tried to pull away, but Adi held her fast.

  “Stop, stop, I give up!” She laughed. Adi’s tickle turned into a warm embrace that felt so right it shook Griffith to the core.

  “You know, they have a new food tour you can take. It goes to all sorts of eateries in Iberia Parish. They asked T’Claude if they could add the Pot to the tour, but he didn’t want to commit to always having something with Tabasco on the menu. I’d sign us up to take the tour, but I’d rather make fresh food for you instead.”

  Griffith smiled and reached for Adi’s hand. She doubted Adi realized just how sweet she was. She felt Adi squeeze her back and was pleased when she didn’t shake off the affectionate grasp.

  I really like her. She’s so genuine, and unjaded. So different from the women in LA. Is that why I’m so attracted to her? I’ve been with women around the world, but no one like her…Adi is just so…real.

  Whatever she was running from hadn’t taken that from her. I could destroy that in her. I’ve got to be so careful. No story is worth that. Not at any price.

  “How about you take me to see the jungle gardens now?”

  “Okay, we can do that. Just remember, I to
ld you it’s not very tropical.”

  “That’s okay with me. I’ll enjoy it regardless.”

  As they drove to the jungle area, Adi pointed out various birds and plants. “There’s really just a dirt road that goes through the gardens. We can stop and get out if we want to. There are a couple of fenced ponds that probably have gators. Then there’s Bird City. It should be impressive this time of year. The egrets should be nesting now.”

  “Bird City?”

  “Yeah, that’s the place old Mr. Ned made for the egrets to roost. Back in the late 1800s the fashionable ladies all had hats with exotic plumage. The egrets around here were almost eradicated through over hunting. Mr. Ned McIlhenny founded Bird City to save them. It worked too. He brought eight young egrets here and raised them in captivity. He released them in the fall for migration to Mexico. They sure enough returned the following spring and brought some friends with them. Now there are thousands of them who return every year.”

  “Wow. That’s amazing. It’s great that he was a conservationist. That surely wasn’t the fashion back then.”

  “No, it wasn’t. Mr. Ned didn’t care what people thought of him. He did things that pleased him for his own reasons. Wait until you see the bamboo he cultivated. Oh, and Buddha, of course.”

  “Tell me about Buddha.”

  “Well, this Buddha is supposed to be from the twelfth century. It was sent from China to New York in nineteen twenty when two warlords were fighting over territory. The one who owned the Buddha didn’t want it damaged or looted. Unfortunately, he never reclaimed the statue and it sat in a warehouse for nineteen years. One day, two friends of Mr. Ned heard about the unclaimed Buddha and bought it for him as a gift. They sent it down via rail car. Mr. Ned built the whole Chinese garden around the Buddha.”

  “I’ve never heard of it. Is it large?”

  “It’s larger than life-size, but not too big. He built a pagoda around it, and later, they glassed it in to protect it.”

  “I definitely want to see that.”

  “You will. Trust me.”

  The gardens were beautiful to Griffith. The variety of flowering plants was astounding. Adi pointed out that she was lucky that she was there during the spring. Most of the year there weren’t nearly as many flowers. The timber bamboo had to be four inches in diameter and more than fifty feet tall.

  “You said it wouldn’t be tropical, but this…this is spectacular. Can we get out and walk around?”

  “Yes, I guess so. We just have to be careful. There may be snakes in there.”

  “Awesome. Let’s go.” Griffith jumped down from the cab of the truck and headed straight into the bamboo stand. It was otherworldly walking among the towering grass. Griffith felt connected to the earth here, in this spot. There was energy here, a moist, sultry heat that danced along her limbs and ran through her, out and up. She looked at Adi, hurrying over from the truck, and wanted to send this primal wave of heat out to meet her. If I touch her right now, we’ll be swallowed up by this energy.

  “Wait up, Griffith.” Adi hurried to catch up.

  Griffith reached out and took her hand. She drew her into the grove, and they stared up at the towering grass stalks. “Makes you feel kind of small and insignificant, don’t they?”

  “Yeah, they do. It kind of creeps me out being in here.”

  “Really? Why? Are you scared?” Griffith felt alive here. Nothing about it scared her. Adi’s reluctance puzzled her.

  “No. Just not comfortable.”

  How could she not feel the energy? Maybe she did, but it frightened her because she didn’t have an experience to connect it to. I need to turn that around. This is good energy and she should know it.

  “Well, I can fix that. Come here,” Griffith said. She pulled Adi close to her. It was steamy hot in the bamboo and sweat coated her forearms and her face.

  “Hey, don’t do that. Let me go.”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve been waiting for just the right moment to do this.” And with that, she stretched up and kissed Adi. It was a soft kiss, almost tentative at first, but when Adi didn’t jerk back, Griffith deepened the kiss. She felt tingling to her toes as Adi parted her lips and allowed access to her warm, sultry mouth. Every nerve ending fired with the emotions the kiss stirred in her. God, she’s so sweet.

  They finally parted, though they stayed close to one another. Griffith gazed up at Adi, hoping to discern what Adi was feeling. We definitely have chemistry. There’s no doubt. Will it go anywhere? Do I want it to? Will Adi be okay with something simple, temporary, like most of the other women who’ve filtered through my life? Except Tabitha. That had been a real mistake. One that cut so deep it took a year to get over it.

  I can’t repeat that. I have to keep this simple. Just good, honest fun. She’s never even been with a woman, with anyone. I’d be her first. Well, I’d make it memorable. I just have to figure out if that’s what she wants.

  Adi would have to come clean about her past for there to be something even momentary, though. Griffith would dig up the bones of the story in Dulac and then it would be up to Adi to own up. She would find out to protect herself, and her career, but she wouldn’t confront Adi with the truth if she didn’t need to. She thought about what T had said about hurting Adi with the past, and she wondered just how important the article was. Maybe it really could just be about the restaurant and the great food. Adi as a person now was pretty amazing. There would always be another article to get her career back on track. It doesn’t have to be this one, right? Adi would have to open up on her own, and Griffith hoped she would.

  “That was nice. Thank you.”

  “Thank you, you mean. You’re the one who kissed me, Griffith. I would’ve never—”

  “Never say never, kiddo. I learned that a long time ago. Your gorgeous lips have been asking me to kiss them. So, I gave in. I’m glad I did.”

  “Me too.”

  “Oh yeah? So you want to do that again sometime?”

  “Sure I do. I want to do that again right now.”

  “Ah, ah, ah. Save some for later. It makes it all the better to savor it. Let’s go see some more of this wonderland. And then you can take me home. Maybe I’ll let you kiss me good night.”

  “Maybe?”

  “Well, it all depends on how the rest of the day goes.”

  The rest of the day was extraordinary. Griffith marveled at how easy it was to be with Adi. If she didn’t know better, she would say Adi was the singularly most open and honest person she had ever encountered. Unless we’re talking about her past. Her ease at describing the island’s features and the candid expression on her face as she told Griffith about the McIlhenny family legacy warmed her through and through.

  It really felt like a date, like her very first date, actually. Pins and needles of excitement raced through her, and the casual brush of Adi’s arm against hers sent a rush of goose bumps down her arm. She felt the easy laughter and silliness that went with first dates. She felt young, like a kid again. She felt her jaded, LA exterior flake away with Adi’s gentle banter. She wanted this feeling to last, to hold on to it. She could tell Adi was feeling it too.

  What a shame that the truth would come calling, exacting its pay in whatever form it took. Whether Adi was running from abuse or something worse, she had to know the truth. It was just who she was, and being involved with someone meant knowing everything about them. Maybe it wasn’t fair; maybe it was too much for some people. The journalist in her never slept, and once she had questions, she had to find answers. And if Adi was running from something, maybe she could help. And that way she’d also know what she was getting into if they got involved. Am I rationalizing? Griffith struggled against the knowledge that this blissful moment was a façade. That reality would come knocking, and soon. She pushed the thought back and walled it off. She would enjoy today and let tomorrow worry about itself.

  When they pulled up in front of Griffith’s hotel, Adi turned off the truck.

  “
So? Do I get to kiss you?”

  Griffith smiled at the shy way Adi asked. “Yes, please kiss me.”

  Adi leaned over and wrapped Griffith in her arms. She put her cheek against Griffith’s and inhaled deeply. “You smell so good.”

  Griffith chuckled. “You mean I smell like sweat and peppers, right?”

  “No, I mean, yes, but you smell like sunshine and rain. You smell like all the good things. I could breathe you in forever.”

  “Adi, that’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  “I mean it.”

  “Just kiss me, already.”

  Adi’s lips touched hers so gently at first that Griffith wanted to push out and capture them, but she waited, letting Adi set the pace. The pressure deepened, and she felt Adi tasting her. Griffith parted her lips, beckoning, and Adi complied. The warmth that washed through Griffith with the touch of Adi’s tongue on her own was electric. She couldn’t restrain herself any longer and pulled Adi deeper into her mouth. The kiss went on and on, never fevered or reckless. Just deeper and deeper until Griffith felt that it would consume her. She pushed against Adi gently.

  They broke apart, both struggling to catch her breath.

  “Good night, Adi.”

  “Good night.”

  Griffith stumbled out of the cab and closed the door behind her. That kiss had nearly undone her. She walked to the hotel entrance without looking back. She finally turned as she pulled open the door. Adi’s gaze was so intense it was as though she could feel her hands sliding over her. She felt heat race through her as they looked at one another. Adi waved once. Griffith waved back and entered the hotel.

  What am I doing?

  CHAPTER TEN

  The morning sun streamed in the window of Griffith’s hotel room. She rolled to her side to avoid the piercing rays. Morning came early here. In LA, she could easily sleep until ten, her apartment suitably dark until she chose to open the blinds. The light here comes right through the walls. She could still smell the faint scent of peppers in her room and smiled, thinking of the day before. She had really enjoyed spending the day with Adi. And the kisses…oh, the kisses. They were just about as perfect as kisses could be.